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Show I , 18 REPORT OF THE COM&IISSIONEB OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. trict; 10 judges, 2 from each district; 25 policemen, 5 from each dis-trict; 1 secretary; 1 assistant secretary; 1 treasurer; 2 starters, and I gate keepers. The whole tribe was to act as a committee on prep-arations. It was decided by the Indians that all o5cers elected from among them should be men who were living on their own land and culti-vating it to good purpose. No lazy Indian, or any in the habit of making .trouble,should be chosen. During the early spring of 1905, instead of holding dances, the Indians of the different districts would meet on Saturday nights and talk over what each intended to do on his farm during the summer. A great deal of interest was worked up and a friendly competition started that did much good. An exchange of satirical pleasantries, too, lent spice to this part of the business. For instance, a miniature box was sent by the Indians of Reno district to the Indians of Pryor district labeled: "Put your exhibit' in this and send over by mail." An answer came back from Chief Plenty Coos, who lives in the Pryor district, saying that' he would agree to " take Reno's exhibit home in his pocket? The Gov-ernment farmers in the several districts kept talking to the Indians about the fair. The agent tried to make the round of their homes and encourage them in their farming and gardening, always impress-jng upon each the pride of excelling his neighbors. Long before the fair was to be held the Indians had become more enthusiastic over making a good showing of farm products. and live stock than over dancing and horse racing. Large colored posters were printed and spread over the reservation advertising the event thus: I FIRST IRDUSTRIAL FAIR OF CROW INDIANS, I AT CROW AGENCY, MONT., BEF'ThXBER 25'7~TO ~OTH,1 905. Great Agricultural Display! Mammoth Live Stock and Poultry Exhibit! A Week of Friendly Competition and Sports for and by the Whole Tribe of Crow Indians. NO GAMBLING. Premtums will be paid in cash. Each District will make display of their prod-ucts under their own immense spread of canvas, where will also be repre sentea their up-to-date ways of cooking and housekeeping. INDIAN SCHOOLS WILL BE THERE WITH THEIR EXHIBITS. 8POBTS. Horse Racing, Relay Racing, Foot Racing, Base Ball, Basket Ball, Greased Pigs, Greased Poles, Dancing, etc Nusic by the School Bands. Committee, the Whole Crow Tribe. These posters inhrested the Indians very much. Many put them up on their houses, and some made frames and hung them by the. |
